MineArchiveMoorgreen Colliery Roof Fall, 1876
| Date | 26 June 1876 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Moorgreen Colliery |
| Region | Nottinghamshire |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 3 (William Linsey, 19, loader; Abel Martin, 15, driver; Edward Morley, 33, stallman.) |
| Injuries | None recorded beyond the three deaths. |
| Context | During active mining |
A very large fall of roof over the timbering at Barber Walker's Moorgreen pit killed three men working together, a loader of nineteen, a driver of fifteen and a stallman of thirty-three.
Cause
A very large fall of roof over the timbering where the men were at work.
Contributing factors
The fall came over the timber that had been set, so that the props and bars did not hold it; no further cause is given in the inspector's summary.
What happened
On 26 June 1876 a very large quantity of roof fell over the timber on to three men working together in the Barber Walker pit at Moorgreen, killing William Linsey, a loader of nineteen, Abel Martin, a driver of fifteen, and Edward Morley, a stallman of thirty-three.
Rescue & recovery
The bodies were recovered from the fall; no rescue detail survives in the sources read.
Investigation & inquiry
The inquest on all three was held at the Sun Inn, Eastwood, on 4 July 1876; the accident was reported as number 35 in the Midland District inspector's report for 1876 (C.1734, p.100).
Legal & regulatory aftermath
No prosecution or change of practice is recorded in the sources read.
Memorials & commemoration
None found.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Three men were killed by a fall of roof on 26 June 1876: William Linsey, 19, Abel Martin, 15, and Edward Morley, 33. 1,2
- The inquest was held at the Sun Inn, Eastwood, on 4 July 1876, and the accident was reported in the 1876 Mines Inspector's report for the Midland District. 2,3
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Filler (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…Barber Walker's Moorgreen pit killed three men working together, a loader of nineteen, a driver of fifteen and a stallman of thirty-three.” - Roof Fall (direct cause)
A very large fall of roof came over the timbering on to the three men.
Sources
- (secondary) Durham Mining Museum: Moorgreen Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Moorgreen Colliery fatalities, page 1 (healeyhero.co.uk) — healeyhero.co.uk
- (primary) Durham Mining Museum: William Linsey, killed 26 June 1876 (1876 Mines Inspector's report, C.1734, p.100) — Durham Mining Museum
Record created: 9 September 2026 · Last researched: 9 September 2026